PHI, union argue over fee requirements for non-members

A regional helicopter company and a union are still no closer to working out a deal following a 30-day "cooling off" period, officials on both sides say.

Petroleum Helicopters Inc., of Lafayette, which serves the oilfield and has a location in Port Fourchon, is embroiled in labor disputes with the Office and Professional Employees International Union in negotiating a labor contract.

At issue is language in the contract that would require all employees to pay union fees, whether they are union members or not.

Although Louisiana is a "right-to-work" state, which means union membership cannot be made a term of employment, that is superceded by the Railway Act, the federal provision under which PHI is unionized, the union says.

According to a PHI memo, the OPEIU president was asked to approve a proposal that was approved by both sides.

"Despite pressure from the AFL-CIO, he flatly rejected the NMB's proposal on grounds that it did not contain a provision requiring all pilots to pay dues to the union as a condition of continued employment," PHI President Lance Bospflug said in the memo.

According to the memo, negotiations broke down when the OPEIU president would not allow pilots to vote on the proposal.

Although most labor relations in the United States are covered under the National Labor Relations Act, railway companies and airlines are covered by the Railway Act, OPEIU's Local 108 President Steve Ragin said.

Ragin said OPEIU has negotiated with PHI, under mediation with the National Mediation Board, but the main problem hinges on whether non-union members will have to pay a "maintenance fee" for enjoying the same benefits as union members.

Ragin said he does not think it is unusual to require non-union members to pay fees to go to work, because under the Railway Act, all employees must have access to the union's services.

"By law, we are required to provide the same services. Everyone gets the same deal," Ragin said. "I can't imagine a company having the latitude to pay non-represented people either higher or lower pay."

Although both sides are trying to avoid a strike, Ragin said that opportunity is open.

"We've jumped through all the hoops as far as the (Railway) Act goes, to take self-help action," Ragin said. "Hopefully, we can avoid a strike."

PHI chief administrative officer and director of human resources Richard Rovinelli said PHI has made concessions to the union in trying to negotiate a contract, but will not bend when it comes to letting pilots work without having to give money to the unions.

"We have stood firm," Rovinelli said. "Pilots should be free to join or not join, pay dues or not pay dues."

One PHI bargaining chip is the workforce is not united behind the union. Rovinelli said before the union received a successful vote last March, it tried unsuccessfully twice before.

"We had three elections in four years," he said. "We have a divided workforce, not where the vast majority voted for the union."

Edward Guidry is a staff writer for the Daily Comet. He can be reached at 448-7646 or by email at ed.guidry@dailycomet.com.